While the number of excavated Terminal Archaic sites is relatively small, general processes are apparent from recent work at several sites in the south-central Andean highlands.

At Ch'uxuqullu on the Island of the Sun, Stanish et al.(2002)report three obsidian samples from the Chivay source in Preceramic levels. Eight obsidian flakes were found in aceramic levels and were described as being from a middle stage of manufacture, and three of these were sourced with NAA. Two samples came from levels with a¹⁴C date of 3780±100bp (Teledyne-I-18, 314; 2500-1900 BCE) and a third Chivay obsidian sample comes from an aceramic level that immediately predates the first ceramics level which occurred at 3110±45bp (AMS-NSF; 1460-1260 BCE). Citing paleoclimate data, the authors observe that boat travel was required to access the Island of the Sun at this time.